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| Sunday, 24 October 2004 |
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Draft resolution to end blockade on Cuba Cuba will submit a draft resolution at the United Nations General Assembly on October 28 aimed at ending the economic, commercial and financial embargo imposed by the United States against it, said Cuban Ambassador, Enna Viant, at a press conference held in Colombo. Cuba was under the US economic blockade since 1959. The Cuban Ambassador said that it was the longest-standing economic, commercial and financial blockade in history. Over 10 US Administrations have already enforced, extended and further tightened it. This was an act of genocide. Seven out of ten Cubans had been born and lived under the blockade. They had to endure hardships and constraints as a result of this ruthless policy imposed on its people. Enna Viant said that the United States not only blocked its own business with Cuba but also forced them on to international financial agencies. In 2003, the Inter-American Development Bank gave Latin America nearly 9 billion US dollars. If Cuba had the access, it would have received credits up to 89 million US dollars. This bank did not provide a single loan to Cuba over the last 45 years. The Cuban envoy said that the Bush administration further tightened the embargo by announcing new measures last May. They included, increase of funding to topple the government, severe limitations on the sending of family-oriented remittances and packages, new restrictions on travels to Americans and Cubans residing in the United States, campaigns against Cuban-bound tourists coming to Cuba, increase in the extra-territorial enforcement of the blockade and the enforcement of the Helms-Burton Act. However, opposition was mounting against the blockade within the United States. Last year more than 135 US delegations comprising Congressmen and other legislators visited the country. More than 85,000 Americans and over one hundred thousand Cubans living the United States travelled to Cuba. Support of the international community into Cuban resolutions at the United Nations too had increased from 50 in 1992 to 173 in 2003. In 2001, the UN General Assembly voted 167-3 to urge the United States to end the embargo. Enna Viant said that although the United States accused Cuba of sponsoring terrorism, there was no evidence to prove its involvement in terrorist activities there. The Cuban Ambassador said that considering all the facts, the US policy on Cuba had failed in all aspects. Therefore, it had become necessary to submit a draft resolution at the 59th sessions of the UNGA. Enna Viant said: 'The draft recalls the statements of the heads of state or government of the Ibero-American Summits over the need to eliminate the unilateral application of economic and trade measures by one state against another that affect the free flow of international trade. The resolution expresses its concern at the continued promulgation and application by member states of law and regulations, such as Helms-Burton Act, the extraterritorial effects of which affect the sovereignty of other states, the legitimate interests of entities or persons under their jurisdiction and the freedom of trade and navigation. It urges States that have and continue to apply such laws and measures to take necessary steps to repeal or invalidate them as soon as possible in accordance with their legal regime,' she said. M.P. M |
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